Documentation Roadmap

Table 1 describes related documentation for Cisco IPVC MCU Releases 3.5.24 and 3.5.33. You can find these and other Cisco IPVC documents at the following URL: http://www.cisco.com/univercd/cc/td/doc/product/ipvc/index.htm

•When using the Web, only operators or administrators can create a conference—Allows you to restrict who can use the Cisco IPVC 35xx MCU web page to create conferences to those given administrator or operator privileges.

Important Notes

This section contains important notes about Cisco IPVC 35xx MCU products the use Release 3.5.24 or Release 3.5.33.

New Hardware Is Incompatible with Some Legacy Software

Cisco IPVC 35xx MCUs that ship from the factory with Release 3.2.224 and later releases use a new Cisco IPVC 35xx MCU hardware module. The version number of the new hardware module is B06.

Determining the Hardware Version Number of a Cisco IPVC 35xx MCU Module

From the Cisco IPVC Administrator web page, use the following procedure to determine the hardware version number of a Cisco IPVC 35xx MCU module:

Step 1 Log in to the Cisco IPVC Administrator of the Cisco IPVC 35xx MCU for which you want to check the hardware version number.

Step 2 From the sidebar, click Board.

Step 3 Click the Basics tab.

Step 4 Locate the Hardware Version field.

Caution Cisco IPVC 35xx MCU hardware module version B06 supports Cisco IPVC 35xx MCU Release 3.2.138 and later releases only. The software that is installed on new modules at the factory is designed to detect attempts to install Release 2.x or earlier releases and to halt the installation. Installing Release 2.x on the new hardware can render the Cisco IPVC MCU inoperable.

EMP Requirements

To use some of the new features in Cisco IPVC 35xx MCU Release 3.5.24 or Release 3.5.33, you must use a Cisco IPVC Enhanced Media Processor (EMP) with Release 2.0.11. You can purchase Cisco IPVC EMP, Release 2.0.11 software online through Cisco Connection Online (CCO).

Cisco VT Advantage Compatibility

When end users use Cisco VT Advantage endpoints, configure the Cisco IPVC MCU to use H.263 video format only.

Open Caveats

This section lists unexpected behavior or defects in Cisco IPVC MCU Releases 3.5.24 and 3.5.33. Severity 1 caveats are the most serious; severity 2 caveats are less serious; and severity 3 caveats are not serious. Table 2 provides information about caveats in Cisco IPVC 35xx MCU Releases 3.5.24 and 3.5.33 that were not resolved at the time of release.

You can search for information about these and other caveats found after this release on the Cisco bug tracking tool, called Bug Toolkit. You must have a Cisco Connection Online (Cisco.com) account to access caveats. To access information about these caveats, enter the URL listed for the caveat in your browser. To access information about other caveats in the Bug Toolkit, go to the following URL:

Resolved Caveats

You can search for information about these and other caveats found after this release on the Cisco bug tracking tool, called Bug Toolkit. You must have a Cisco Connection Online (Cisco.com) account to access caveats. To access information about these caveats, enter the URL listed for the caveat in your browser. To access information about other caveats in the Bug Toolkit, go to the following URL:

Adapting the Output Display for Different Types of Monitors

Some monitors crop the image that the Cisco IPVC 35xx MCU distributes to conference participants. This feature allows you to configure the Cisco IPVC 35xx MCU to adapt the size of the output image to suit different types of monitors.

Step 1 Log in to the Cisco IPVC Administrator of the Cisco IPVC 35xx MCU that you want to configure.

Verifying that Video Endpoints Can Connect to the Cisco IPVC MCU

Endpoints must be able to join video conferences on the Cisco IPVC MCU before Cisco MeetingPlace Video Integration can run.

If you have questions about routing calls through the gatekeeper and you use a Cisco IOS H.323 Gatekeeper, see the Cisco IOS H.323 Configuration Guide.

Step 1 Follow the instructions in the documentation for your Cisco IPVC MCU to have each video endpoint dial in to a video conference.

Step 2 Follow the instructions in the documentation for your Cisco IPVC MCU to have the Cisco IPVC MCU call each video endpoint.

Creating a Cisco IPVC MCU User for Cisco MeetingPlace

Create a username and password that Cisco MeetingPlace Video Integration will use to log in to the Cisco IPVC 35xx MCU.

After you create a Cisco IPVC 35xx MCU user name for Cisco MeetingPlace, you must make the user name available to the Cisco MeetingPlace video server through the Cisco MeetingPlace video server installation utility.

For information about installing, upgrading, and configuring the Cisco MeetingPlace video server, see the Administrator's Guide for Cisco MeetingPlace Video Integration Release 5.3.

Step 1 Log in to the Cisco IPVC Administrator of the Cisco IPVC MCU that you want Cisco MeetingPlace to use.

Step 2 From the sidebar, click Board.

Step 3 Click the Users tab.

Step 4 Click the Add button.

The Add User dialog box appears.

Step 5 In the "User name" field, enter the name that you want the Cisco MeetingPlace Web Conferencing server to use to log in to the Cisco IPVC MCU.

Step 6 In the "Access level" field, click Administrator or Operator.

Step 7 In the Password field, enter the password that you want this user to have.

Step 8 In the "Confirm Password" field, enter the password that you want Cisco MeetingPlace to use.

Step 9 To disable the ability of this user to telnet into the Cisco IPVC MCU, uncheck Enable for Telnet / FTP.

Step 8 We recommend that you check Disconnect participants on communications (ICMP) failure and click Audio failure in the "Disconnect on" field.

Step 9 To save these settings to memory, click Upload.

Setting the Audio Indication Interval (Optional)

If video participants join a conference that has not yet started, they must wait in the waiting room. To play an announcement while participants wait, set the following parameter:

Step 1 Click MCU, then click Settings.

Step 2 Click the Advanced button.

Step 3 Click the Commands button.

The Advanced Command dialog box appears.

Step 4 In the Advanced Command dialog box, do the following:

a. In the Available commands window, click Audio indication interval.

Your selection appears in the Command field.

b. In the Parameter field, enter the value in milliseconds that you want Cisco MeetingPlace to announce to video participants that they are in the waiting room and that the conference has not formally started.

Tip We recommend entering 1500 to establish an interval of 15 seconds.

c. Click Send, then click Close.

Creating a Service for Cisco MeetingPlace

You must create a Cisco IPVC MCU service for Cisco MeetingPlace. Before you create a service in the Cisco IPVC MCU make sure that the media processor (MP) that the Cisco IPVC MCU uses supports Cisco MeetingPlace.

You can use one of the preconfigured Cisco MeetingPlace service templates or manually create a Cisco MeetingPlace service.

Using Preconfigured Service Templates

Cisco IPVC MCU Releases 3.5.24 and 3.5.33 include three preconfigured services that are designed for Cisco MeetingPlace.

Note The Cisco MeetingPlace service prefixes appear automatically on the IPVC Administrator Services page for new Cisco IPVC 35xx MCUs. However, these services do not appear when you upgrade your Cisco IPVC 35xx MCU to Release 3.5.24 or Release 3.5.33. To display these services, you must use the restore factory defaults option. In doing so, you will lose your current configuration.

To install the Cisco MeetingPlace service templates on an existing Cisco IPVC MCU installation and erase existing services:

Step 1 Run the Cisco IPVC MCU installer.

Step 2 At the first install screen, click Customize.

Step 3 Check the MCU Config File check box.

Step 4 Continue with the installation.

Step 5 After installation, log in to the Cisco IPVC MCU as administrator.

Step 6 From the sidebar, click MCU.

Step 7 Click the Services tab.

Step 8 In the Services tab, choose the appropriate template for your needs. Voice Activated allows participants to View Active Speaker, while Continuous Presence allows participants to View Multiple People. These settings are available to participants in the web-conferencing meeting room:

Step 7 In the "Service description," enter the description for this service that you want to appear on the Create Conference page.

Step 8 In the "Media types" section, check Video.

Note Cisco MeetingPlace provides data collaboration in conferences. Disable data collaboration in the Cisco IPVC MCU if it is currently enabled.

Step 9 Specify the number of ports that you want the Cisco IPVC MCU to reserve for each conference as follows:

a. In the "Reserved number of parties" field, enter 2.

Note One of these ports is reserved for the Cisco MeetingPlace server.

Tip You can ascertain the maximum number of ports this service can support by entering 200 in the "Maximum number of parties" field and choosing OK at the bottom of the page. The error message that appears indicates the maximum number of ports the current configuration allows based on the video bandwidth value specified in the Conference Views section.

b. In the "Maximum number of parties" field, enter the total number of Cisco IPVC MCU ports that are available for conferences.

Setting Audio Indications

We recommend that you enable all audio-indication parameters.

Step 1 Click the Indications button.

The Indications Settings dialog box appears.

Step 2 Make sure that all parameters are checked.

Step 3 Click OK.

Making Sure that a Conference Password Is Not Required

Step 1 Click the Management button.

The Management Settings dialog box appears.

Step 2 Make sure that password-related parameters are unchecked.

Step 3 Click OK.

The Add Services dialog box appears.

Setting Conference View Parameters

When you set view parameters, use the Cisco MeetingPlace service template as a model. The templates are described in the "Using Preconfigured Service Templates" section. A Voice Activated view allows participants to View Active Speaker, while a Continuous Presence view allows participants to View Multiple People.

Step 7 To save these conference-view parameters and to close the Edit View dialog box, click OK.

Special Instructions for Accommodating SCCP Endpoints

Because SCCP endpoints require the H.263 format, special view settings are required. To set up views, use the table in the "Using Preconfigured Service Templates" section as a model for setting parameters, or use the appropriate procedure from this section.

If your users will attend via SCCP endpoints and your Cisco IPVC MCU has only an MP card, only the Voice Activated view can be used. In this case, all participants will be able to use only the View Active Speaker option available in the Cisco MeetingPlace meeting room. They will not be able to view multiple people simultaneously.

Creating a Single Voice-Activated View

Step 1 The default view should have the correct parameter settings. Verify that the settings are as follows:

Parameter

Value

Initial Layout

1-participant layout

Max Layout

1-participant layout

Use Processor

MP

Format (in the VideoSchemesSettings section)

H.263

Other parameters

As desired

Step 2 Click OK.

If your users will attend via SCCP endpoints and you have both an MP card and an EMP card, in order for participants to be able to use both the View Active Speaker and the View Multiple People options that are available in the Cisco MeetingPlace web-conferencing meeting room, both views are required. The View Active Speaker option corresponds to the Voice Activated view, and View Multiple People corresponds to the Continuous Presence view.

Creating Two Separate Views

Step 1 In the service, click the Views button to create the first view.

Step 2 Set the following parameters for this view:

Parameter

Value

Initial Layout

Desired multiple participant layout (for example, 4 participant)

Max Layout

Desired multiple participant layout (for example, 4 participant)

Use Processor

EMP

Format (in the Video Schemes Settings section)

H.263

Other parameters

As desired

Step 3 Click OK.

Step 4 Check the Display all conference views check box.

Step 5 Click Add View.

Step 6 Set the following parameters for the second view:

Parameter

Value

Initial Layout

1-participant layout

Max Layout

1-participant layout

Use Processor

MP

Format (in the Video Schemes Settings section)

H.263

Other parameters

As desired

Step 7 Click OK.

Setting Video Schemes Parameters

Step 1 Select the "Video Settings Schemes" profile that you want to edit and click the Edit button.

The Edit Video Scheme dialog box appears.

Step 2 In the "Max bit rate" field, click the maximum video bandwidth that you want this service to support. This number must be less than or equal to the bandwidth settings in Cisco MeetingPlace (and in Cisco CallManager, if your network uses Cisco CallManager.)

Note Endpoints that are not capable of supporting this bandwidth receive only the conference audio unless dynamic scheme is allowed.

Step 3 Check Allow dynamic scheme to enable the Cisco IPVC MCU to switch the conference video bandwidth to a lower value when a less capable endpoint joins the conference.

•In the "Min bit rate" field, click the lowest bandwidth that you want this parameter to support.

Step 4 To save these Video Scheme changes and to close this dialog box, click OK.

Step 5 To save these conference-view parameters and to close the Edit View dialog box, click OK.

Saving Your Service

To save your service, click OK at the bottom of the Service page.

Muting Participants As They Join a Conference

This feature allows you to configure a service to automatically mute participants as they join a conference. All participants are muted when they join. The conference administrator must change the mute status of participants in the Cisco IPVC conference page for the conference.

Step 1 Log in to the Cisco IPVC Administrator of the Cisco IPVC 35xx MCU that you want to configure.

Configuring Participant Name Display Duration

This feature allows you to configure how the Cisco IPVC 35xx MCU displays an identifier in the frame of a participant.

Step 1 Log in to the Cisco IPVC Administrator of the Cisco IPVC 35xx MCU that you want to configure.

Step 2 Choose MCU > Settings > Advanced.

The Advanced page appears.

Step 3 In the "Participant name display duration" field, enter the length of time in seconds that you want to Cisco IPVC 35xx MCU to display the identifier in the frame.

Note This is a universal setting that applies to all services that are configured to display this identifier temporarily.

Step 4 To save this setting, click Upload.

Step 5 Click the Services tab and open the service profile for which you want to enable this parameter.

The Edit Service dialog box appears.

Step 6 Check the Edit Views icon.

The Edit Views dialog box appears.

Step 7 In the "Display participant name" field, click one of the following option for displaying the identifier in the frame:

•Always—Constantly displays the identifier in the frame.

•Never—Does not display the identifier in the frame.

•On Change—Displays the identifier of the participant for the interval set in the "Participant name display duration" field when the video switches.

Step 8 Click OK.

The Edit Service dialog box appears.

Step 9 Click OK.

Step 10 To save changes to memory, click Upload.

About Configuring the Cisco IPVC 35xx MCU to Use SIP

Cisco IPVC 35xx MCUs using Release 3.5.24 or Release 3.5.33 support Session Initiation Protocol (SIP). You can configure the Cisco IPVC MCU to register with SIP proxy servers and SIP registrar servers. The Cisco IPVC 35xx MCU then allows SIP-enabled endpoints to participate in video conferences, including those that have H.323 endpoints. The Cisco IPVC 35xx MCU can register conferences with the SIP registrar server so that SIP endpoints can dial directly into established video conferences.

To configure the Cisco IPVC MCU to support SIP, do the following tasks in this order:

About Setting the Dynamic Layout Feature

The dynamic layout feature has expanded in Cisco IPVC 35xx MCU Releases 3.5.24 and 3.5.33. The information in this section supersedes that in the "Create a Basic View" and "Viewing the Edit View Dialog Box" in Cisco IP/VC 3511 MCU and Cisco IP/VC 3540 MCU Module Administrator Guide, Version 3.2.

The dynamic layout feature allows you to use multiple layouts to display participants in a video conference. The type of media processor that the service uses determines the number of layouts that are available and the maximum number of frames that can appear. Table 7 provides layout information for Cisco IPVC media processors.

Table 7 Cisco IPVC Media Processors Layout Information

Cisco Media Processor

Number of Layouts

Maximum number of Frames

Embedded media processor

2

4

Rate Matching module

13

16

Enhanced Media Processor

27

16

You choose whether to use multiple layouts when you configure a service. You specify an initial layout and a maximum layout. In the initial layout, you specify the display capacity and pattern of the first participants to join the conference. In the maximum layout, you specify the total number of participants that you want to display and the pattern in which you want to display them.

Services that use a Cisco IPVC EMP, Release 2.0.11 or later releases can use additional layouts representing capacities between the initial and maximum layouts. These layout choices apply to all relevant services.

Activating Dynamic Layouts

Step 1 Log in to the Cisco IPVC Administrator of the Cisco IPVC 35xx MCU that you want to configure.

Step 2 Choose MCU > Services.

Step 3 To open a service profile, do one of the following:

•Click the Add button to create a new service profile.

•Select a service prefix and click the Edit button to modify an existing service profile.

The Edit Service dialog box appears.

Step 4 Check theEdit Views icon.

The Edit Views dialog box appears.

Step 5 To set the maximum layout parameter:

a. Click the Max. Layout Change button.

The Set Max Layout dialog box appears.

b. Click the layout for the maximum number of participants that you want this service to display simultaneously.

c. Click OK.

Step 6 To set the initial layout parameter:

a. Click the Initial Layout Change button.

The Set Initial Layout dialog box appears.

b. Click the layout for the number of participants that you want this service to display when the conference is initiated.

c. Click OK.

Step 7 Check Use dynamic layout.

Step 8 Click OK.

The Edit Services dialog box appears.

Step 9 Click OK.

Setting Universal Layouts

Step 1 Log in to the Cisco IPVC Administrator of the Cisco IPVC 35xx MCU that you want to configure.

Step 2 Choose MCU > Settings > Display layout.

The Dynamic Layouts page appears.

Step 3 For each quantity-of-participant listing, click the layout that you want the Cisco IPVC MCU to use when that number of participants joins the conference and the service is configured to display more participants.

Note When you do not specify a pattern for a quantity-of-participant listing, the Cisco IPVC 35xx MCU uses the next pattern that you specify.

Step 4 Click Upload.

Using the Cisco IPVC 35xx MCU Configuration Wizard

Cisco IPVC 35xx MCU Releases 3.5.24 and 3.5.33 now allow you to input registration information for SIP in the Setup Wizard.

The following information supersedes the information in the "Using the IP/VC MCU Configuration Wizard" in Cisco IP/VC 3511 MCU and Cisco IP/VC 3540 MCU Module Administrator Guide, Version 3.2.

Step 1 If the wizard starts automatically after you log in to the Cisco IPVC Administrator go to Step 2, otherwise click Setup Wizard on the toolbar.

The Board Settings dialog box appears.

Step 2 To change the IP address information with which the Cisco IPVC 35xx MCU is currently configured:

a. In the IP address field, enter the IP address that you want to the Cisco IPVC MCU to use.

b. In the Subnet mask field, enter the subnet mask that you want to assign to the Cisco IPVC 35xx MCU.

c. In the router IP address field, enter the IP address of the router that you want the Cisco IPVC 35xx MCU to use.

d. Click Next.

The H.323 Settings dialog box appears.

Step 3 To specify the H.323 gatekeeper that you want the Cisco IPVC 35xx MCU to use:

a. In the Gatekeeper IP field, enter the IP address of the gatekeeper that you want the Cisco IPVC 35xx MCU to use.

b. In the Gatekeeper Port field, enter the port number that the Cisco IPVC 35xx MCU can use to communicate with the gatekeeper.

c. Click Next.

The SIP Settings page appears.

Step 4 To specify the SIP proxy server and domain information that you want the Cisco IPVC MCU to use:

a. In the Proxy IP field, enter the IP address of the SIP proxy server that you want the Cisco IPVC 35xx MCU to use.

b. In the Proxy Port field, enter the port number that the SIP proxy server uses for communication.

c. In the Default Domain field, enter the domain name that you want the Cisco IPVC MCU to append to the dial string of outbound calls when the domain suffix is not provided.

d. Check Using Microsoft RTC to have the Cisco IPVC 35xx MCU register with the Microsoft RTC server in your environment.

e. Click Next.

The Date and Time Settings page appears.

Step 5 To synchronize the Cisco IPVC 35xx MCU clock with the clock on the current computer, click Update to local time.

Step 6 To save the changes, click Finish.

Related Documentation

For additional information about Cisco MeetingPlace products or about obtaining documentation or technical support, see the Guide to Cisco MeetingPlace Conferencing Documentation and Support at the following URL: